Morning journal and courier., 1887-08-01
DAMS FIGHT WITH A BEAR.
Tactics Which Resulted in the Loss o

Tactics Which Resulted 1n the Loss Of a Fine PeIt.
 Grizzly Dan, the greatest bear killer on the North American continent, is in town, writes New York Sun correspondent from San Jose, Cal. He is likewise in the county
 jail. Dan usually lands in jail about four hours after striking into civilization. Civi- lized whiskey fosters in his mind the delu- sion that he is 8 doctor, and the fifth glass sends him to the nearest doctors office, where he helps himself to an outfit of in- struments and books on surgery. Dan struck town last night, filed up with sheep-herder's delight and made a raid on Dr. Thorne's of
 fee. At 10:30 p. m. he was found sitting on the steps of the jail smoking Dr. Thorne's
 big meerschaum pipe and trying to read treatise on diseases of the brain. Dr. Thorne's set of silver-plated surgical instru- ments were sticking out of Grizzly Dams side pocket. He wore a sombrero, buck skin shirt and bearskin trousers with the hair on. When Dan was taken in he recov cred from his medical mania and waxed elo- quent on the subject of bears. He freely
 admitted that he was the biggest bear hunter on top of this green earth.
 "Fetch on your grizzlies" said he, "and I'll show ye some dirty work. I'm bad
 man to clean up after"
 The sheriff was all out of grizzlies just then and could not fetch on any, much to Dams disappointment. Dan said he had just come in from the Santa Cruz mountains to rest little after extirminating 8 prodigious number of bears. The last one he tackled proved to be very amusing critter, accord- ing to his account of the fracas. He had : been laying monarchs of the mountains low in death all the afternoon, and weary of slaughter, he threw himself down upon great pile of fresh pelts to take @ nap. He was rudely awakened by terrible swipe on the side of his head that rolled him from the pile of skins and about twenty feet away.
 When he jumped up he found large bear facing him in the attitude of boxer. Dan could not get near his rife, and concluded to rush in and take his chances on wrestling match, so he said. He clinched with the bear and then began terrific struggle for the mastery Dan got the under hold, which made it difficult for the bear to hug with much effect, and he kept so close that the brute could not raise hind foot to rip his abdomen-an uncomfortable trick to which some bears resort when they get into tight place and lose all regard for fair play. In the scrimmage Dan and the bear kicked up considerable dust, which prevented them from seeing that they were working toward the edge of cliff. Dan was the first to see the brink of the gulch. The bears back was toward it. An idea occurred to Dan, and he began putting the bear on the end of the nose with the of his head. It was sur prising form of assault to the bear and also very disturbing, because a bears nose is very tender. The bear sneezed, yelped and shook his head, and the tears blinded his wicked little eyes. He backed toward the gulch and Dan butted with increased ener- gy. He changed his hand hold and grabbed the bear by both ears so as to hold the nose in range. When they reached the edge of the precipice Dan gave the bear one terrinc smash on the nose, tripped up his heels and let him go. He went about half mile in
 vertical direction, if Dams calculation is cor- rect. The whole thing was so funny, Dan said, that he sat down on a rock and laughed
 fit to burst. Then it occurred to him that
 he had lost fine pelt, and he got up and
 kicked himself with vigor because he didn't hug the bear to death and save his skin. When Dan gets sober he will not remem-